| p>How It All Started | | | | are trying to survive and look for new feeding |
| Every caring person can make a difference. Even | | | | and roosting habitats which include margins of |
| more powerful, a dedicated team of employees | | | | lakes and ponds. Two very important factors for |
| and volunteers in Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary is | | | | nesting location of sandhill cranes are isolation and |
| making a huge difference in the life of more than | | | | presence of water. No wonder we find them at |
| sixty thousand migrating and native birds and | | | | the golf courses. |
| other animals of Florida's Sarasota Bay. | | | | Hospital |
| It all started in 1981, when Dale Shields found a | | | | The backbone of the sanctuary is of course the |
| pelican, lying on the beach. The bird looked dead. | | | | hospital in which on average fifteen patients per |
| When it finally moved its eyes, Dale rushed it | | | | day are treated. Wildlife Rescue volunteers bring |
| home. At the time, there were no organizations | | | | the birds in after caring people report injured, sick |
| that would be able to help, so the nursing took | | | | or orphaned bird. |
| place in Dale's bathtub until the pelican was well | | | | All of the birds are supposed to be released back |
| enough to be released back into the wild. | | | | in the wild. Unfortunately, that's not always |
| During this experience Dale developed a vision to | | | | possible. Some of the injuries are so severe that |
| create a Wildlife Rescue of Sarasota and | | | | a survival is endangered. For that reason some |
| succeeded after eight years, in 1989. The | | | | birds are given a permanent home in natural, |
| construction of the Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary | | | | spacious habitat at the Pelican Man's Bird |
| began with the generous help from the City of | | | | Sanctuary. |
| Sarasota. Throughout the last year alone the | | | | And what better proves that this is a nice place |
| Sanctuary has rehabilitated and released over | | | | to live than a choice of several wild birds to live |
| 4,000 birds into the wild. | | | | and breed in or around the Sanctuary. |
| Injuries | | | | How You Too Can Help |
| Some of the common injuries for which the birds | | | | Dale Shields passed away in 2003. His life was |
| are treated in Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary hospital | | | | dedicated to wildlife despite his ill-health. But his |
| are: wing, eye, leg and feet injuries, and beak | | | | vision survived. It is alive and growing with new |
| damage. | | | | areas developing in the Sanctuary and more being |
| And reasons for most of these and several other | | | | planned on. |
| injuries? | | | | If you, too, are concerned about the wildlife or |
| There are many of them, including the | | | | just birds, it's easy to help this bird-and- visitor |
| environmental issues like polluted water and traffic | | | | friendly and well maintained place. You have |
| struck. Fishing line entanglement and fishing hooks | | | | several choices and you can find one that suits |
| cause lots of troubles as well. Therefore, all the | | | | your budget and interest with no hassle. If you |
| fishermen should keep in mind not to cut the line | | | | are in the area, go visit and see the Sanctuary |
| when a bird swallows a fishing hook. The hook | | | | for yourself. |
| has to be removed. Lots of injuries are caused | | | | Recently constructed Heronry, the most |
| from predator attacks as well. | | | | advanced habitat at the Sanctuary for Herons, |
| One of the most surprising common injury | | | | Ibis and Egrets, is focused on water and native |
| reasons are hits by golf balls. In particular Sandhill | | | | wetland plants. This super-structure is designed |
| Cranes are the victims of golfing quite often. | | | | for minimizing maintenance and disturbance to the |
| Since the wetland and grassland areas are smaller | | | | birds. Any size of your help or donation improves |
| and smaller every year due to drainage projects, | | | | the living conditions for all the birds that found |
| agricultural development and logging, these | | | | safe home at the Pelican Man's. |
| sensitive to disturbance and very majestic birds | | | | |